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Owning one’s own private jet is such a costly affair that even most prominent multimillionaires can barely afford the luxury. The cost of owning and maintaining a private jet is so great that according to a 2018 report by Vistajet and Wealth-X, the average net worth of a private jet owner is $1.5 billion. If a businessman has much less than that, the math simply doesn’t make sense.
While owning a private jet might be the ultimate status symbol for Africa’s richest people, having a private plane for quick and easy travel may be especially valuable for high-powered African billionaires and executives.
Here are some of Africa’s richest people who own private jets and the planes they own:
Nassef Sawiris, Egyptian
Nassef Sawiris, who is Egypt’s richest man and a scion of the legendary Sawiris family, owns a Gulfstream G650 aircraft. Sawiris was previously among the largest shareholders of Signature Aviation, a British multinational aviation services company.
Mike Adenuga, Nigerian
The reclusive Nigerian oil billionaire who owns telecom outfit Globacom and oil company Conoil Producing travels around the world in a Bombardier Global Express XRS. Mike Adenuga also owns a Bombardier Challenger 604.
Mahamadou Bonkoungou, Burkinabe
Mahamadou Bonkoungou, one of Burkina Faso’s richest men, owns a private jet charter company that counts many political leaders in Francophone Africa as loyal clients. Bonkoungou himself flies across Africa in his Dassault Falcon FX.
Anas Sefrioui, Moroccan
Cessna Sovereign 680
Anas Sefrioui, a Moroccan real estate mogul and president of the Addoha real estate group, owns a Cessna Sovereign 680, which can accommodate up to 12 people.
Aliko Dangote, Nigerian
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has owned a fleet of business aircraft over the years. Today, he primarily jets around the world on his Bombardier Global Express XRS.
Nicky Oppenheimer, South African
In 2014, Nicky Oppenheimer, the South African billionaire heir to the DeBeers diamond fortune, started a private jet charter company called Fireblade Aviation, using some of the aircraft in his personal fleet which includes a Global 6500 and two Challenger 350. He flies internationally on the Global 6500.
Humphrey Kariuki, Kenyan
Humphrey Kariuki, a fiercely private Kenyan tycoon with businesses in alcohol manufacturing, oil distribution, renewable energy, hospitality and real estate, owns a Bombardier Challenger 350.
Aziz Akhannouch, Moroccan
Moroccan billionaire Aziz Akhannouch, the majority owner of Akwa Group, one of Morocco’s largest conglomerates, prefers to move around in his Falcon 900EX which he reportedly acquired in 2019 for $25 million. King Mohammed VI of Morocco recently appointed billionaire Akhannouch, who is the leader of the National Rally of Moroccan Independents, as head of government.
Folorunsho Alakija, Nigerian
Nigeria’s richest woman and vice chairman of Famfa Oil, the owner of one of the country’s most prolific oil blocks, Folorunsho Alakija owns a Bombardier Global Express XRS with registration number, “VP-CEO.”
Johann Rupert, South African
South African billionaire Johann Rupert is chairman of Compagnie Financiere Richemont, a Swiss luxury goods firm that is best known for the brands Cartier and Montblanc. He is the proud owner of a Bombardier Global 6000.
